Chapter 369: Lanen is Pregnant with an Egg 2

Chapter 369: Lanen is Carrying an Egg (2)

Lanen: "..."

Under Lin You's furious gaze, he guiltily shifted his feet, tossed a few routine official remarks at the new recruits, and pointed at Devin. "My deputy will go over the details with you." Then he hurriedly stepped off the stage.

Devin closed his eyes in agony once more, accepting the responsibility his superior had dumped on him. As he took the stage, he watched Lanen effortlessly weave through the crowd and approach Lin You.

With a smile in his eyes, Iris Major General placed his left hand over his chest, bent one leg backward, and bowed gracefully in a flawless salute. "My esteemed Majesty, what brings you here today?"

—His tone was the perfect theatrical lilt.

Having spent so much time with Lanen, Lin You knew that whenever the other felt guilty, he would adopt this mannerism to charm Lin You into relenting.

His Majesty the Insect Emperor snorted. This visit had been a last-minute decision—he had diverted his route to check on Lanen without bringing his guards or setting up any security. Considering the crowded surroundings and the inappropriateness of speaking openly, he simply grabbed Lanen and dragged him away.

In terms of raw strength, Lin You was no match for Lanen, but the moment he exerted force, Lanen obediently let himself be pulled along.

At the front, Devin was delivering an impassioned speech, spittle flying, while behind him, Iris General and the Insect Emperor were engaged in an undignified back-and-forth. Devin watched this unfold and subtly rolled his eyes.

He cursed internally a thousand times over, while Lanen's other deputies exchanged uneasy glances, their faces marked with concern.

—They were worried about Lanen's situation.

After the expedition, most of Lanen's original elite forces had been lost. Aside from Devin, who had long been by his side, these deputies had been promoted afterward. They had vaguely heard rumors about the relationship between the Insect Emperor and the general, but the details were unclear, and they didn’t know the true state of their marriage.

The royal family, after all, often put on a show of affection for outsiders—who knew what went on behind closed doors?

And right now, the Emperor’s expression was truly unpleasant.

Given the unique circumstances of the insect race, even though the situation had improved significantly, the deputies still harbored a natural wariness toward male insects. Even if the rumors claimed that Iris General and the Insect Emperor were deeply in love and that Lanen was deeply favored, seeing Lin You’s stormy expression firsthand made them uneasy.

Even after Devin finished his speech and dismissed the new recruits, their unease remained.

So when Devin stepped down, the deputies clustered around him, whispering, "His Majesty arrived unannounced and took General Lanen away directly—is there some kind of trouble?"

Aside from Lanen’s inner circle, a few officers from other factions also shot curious glances their way.

—Though Lanen was a general, he couldn’t possibly purge all the other noble families. These factions balanced each other out, some allies, some rivals, each with their own hidden agendas.

Devin rolled his eyes so hard they might’ve gotten stuck. "With those two, what trouble could there possibly be?"

He gestured casually. "Look, the lounge has a partial view of General Lanen’s office. If you don’t believe me, go take a look."

The deputies and officers from other families exchanged glances and nodded slightly.

The keen senses of the insect race’s military females were extraordinary. The group settled in the lounge, pretending to sip their drinks. For some reason, the blackout curtains in Lanen’s office weren’t drawn—only a thin, translucent curtain obscured the view, allowing glimpses of the figures inside.

At that moment, His Majesty the Insect Emperor stood alone by the wall, facing it and refusing to look at Lanen—clearly angry.

Lanen poured a glass of water and pushed it toward the Emperor, but Lin You turned his face away, refusing to take it.

For a moment, the expressions in the lounge shifted—Lanen’s inner circle looked worried, while the others wore varied, inscrutable expressions.

—His Majesty the Insect Emperor had arrived unannounced and was now giving his partner and general the cold shoulder. Was the power dynamics in the capital about to change?

The next second, they saw Lanen grasp Lin You’s shoulders and firmly turn him around.

The onlookers: "...?"

That bold, huh?

Inside the room, Lanen whispered soothingly, "Are you angry? Really angry?"

He took Lin You's hand and placed it on his abdomen. "Wanna feel it? It's being good."

Through the fabric, Lin You felt something firm and spherical beneath the softness of Lanen's belly.

He traced it carefully, finally feeling the real weight of becoming a father.

Lanen: "See? It's fine. Don't be mad, alright?"

"..."

Lin You: "Lanen, I'm not worried about it."

Looking into his Consort's vivid blue eyes, Lin You took a deep breath and burrowed himself into Lanen's embrace, sighing dejectedly. "I know this is your job, your passion. And I know this much movement is nothing for you. But I just—I just couldn’t help it, understand? When I saw you kicking someone earlier, my heart almost gave out."

Lanen wrapped his arms around his beloved, a grin spreading uncontrollably. "Mm, I understand."

Because he cared too much, even the slightest risk terrified him.

He ran fingers through Lin You's hair. "Want to listen to its movements?"

Lin You mumbled, "No."

Honestly, Lin You wasn't done enjoying their alone time—this egg came way too early.

Lanen teased, "Just listen. It really likes you."

Lin You grumbled, "It’s just a fertilized egg. How can it like me already?"

Despite his words, he lowered his head and pressed his ear against his Consort's abdomen.

In the break room, Devin let out a long sigh, with a knowing look. "What did I tell you? See now?"

The curtains obscured most details, leaving only blurred silhouettes, but their embrace was clear as day.

Just then, Lin You released Lanen, who walked to the window pretending to refill water. Adjusting the curtains, he cast a seemingly casual glance toward the break room.

Everyone: "!"

At that moment, every faction backed down.

*

Once the pregnancy was confirmed, Lin You hired an obstetric specialist at home to teach them the essentials.

He began diligently taking notes, learning how to be an expectant father—from diet and exercise to nutrition and medication, gradually grasping the key precautions.

Lanen wasn’t keen on listening. Given the resilience of their species, he'd have no problem flying a battleship into combat pregnant.

So, he fidgeted, dying to sneak off.

Lin You planted the general back in his chair. "Listen!"

Lanen forced himself to focus, thinking this was even more boring than cooking class. He only half-listened to the instructor’s words about prenatal anxiety and postpartum depression, idly twirling his pen while admiring how seriously his beloved was taking notes.

Anxiety? Depression? With the Iris General’s steel nerves—after all, he'd once taken out the Crown Prince solo—he figured he was immune to that stuff.

Yet, Lanen soon realized that, with all the hormone changes, he wasn't completely unaffected.

For instance, he was no longer willing to leave Lin You's side.

Even for something as short as work, it was unbearable.

The master bed felt like a cozy nest, and Lin You was his treasure—one he refused to share. Lanen had never craved anything so intensely before. He couldn’t help pressing closer, ensuring every inch of their skin touched.

"Sorry," Lanen murmured, lowering his gaze, though his lips still brushed against Lin You's skin. Barely holding back the urge to lick, he tipped his head back, eagerly seeking a kiss. "I can't control it... I *need* you."

"...It might be too early now." Lin You flipped through his notes. "It’s too soon—you could hurt it."

Lanen was this close to torching those notes and kicking the expert out.

"It's fine." Lanen's silver hair was completely drenched, glistening like wet silk. Buried against Lin You's chest, he trembled like a stranded mermaid, wordlessly begging his sailor. "It's not that fragile... Mm..."

Lin You: "No."

Lanen looked at him imploringly.

Lin You kissed the corner of his lips. "...Not that. But... if you’re desperate, use your hands."

The Insect Emperor flexed his slender, elegant fingers, the pads bearing faint calluses, their touch firm.

"..."

The night was agony.

Due to His Majesty's excessive caution—always painstakingly gentle and meticulous—Lanen was left hanging, frustrated and unsatisfied. The frustration gnawed at him, leaving him tossing and turning, sleepless. By the end, he even started *hating* the damn egg inside him.

—They warned him pregnancy was hell for female insects, but nobody said it’d be *this* kind of torture!

The Iris General had a high pain tolerance—he had suffered plenty of injuries in his early years—but *this*? Too far.

To make matters worse, Lin You kept comforting him without understanding, his scent taunting him in the air, driving Lanen mad. He swung between holding back and losing it, nearly laughing in exasperation.

Fortunately, the insect gestation period wasn't long. Within a few months, it reached full term.

Lanen lay calmly on the examination bed, indifferent as the medical staff wheeled him away at breakneck speed. Blanking at the ceiling, he thought, *Finally, it's over.*

His Majesty the Insect Emperor stayed by his side the entire time, looking far more panicked than Lanen, clutching the doctor’s hand white-knuckled until only repeated assurances made him let go, dazed.

Lanen mused, "*Just* an egg. Big deal."

The General wasn’t called elite for nothing—he barely felt any pain before smoothly delivering the egg.

The medical staff placed the egg in Lanen's arms. He raised an eyebrow, examining it.

A plump, white egg, its surface adorned with intricate, mesmerizing patterns.

Bored, he gave it a half-hearted roll before handing it back. "Stick it in the incubator."

The moment the egg was placed inside, Lin You burst in, frantic.

After scrutinizing Lanen and confirming he was unharmed, he finally *breathed*. When the doctor asked if he wanted to hold the egg, Lin You flatly refused.

Lanen’s brow ticked up.

Regardless, the egg had arrived safely, and Lanen could finally bid farewell to the detested expert. Exhaling deeply, he happily took his mate home.

As for postpartum depression? Lanen was certain he wouldn't have it.

But he noticed that Lin You seemed to be suffering from "post-egg depression."

His Majesty the Insect Emperor's time spent zoning out increased dramatically. He would often gaze at Lanen holding the egg with a hesitant expression before sulkily moving to sit elsewhere.

Lanen: "?"

He had no choice but to consult the experts via his comms device, only to receive a barrage of question marks in response.

"Huh? Sir Lanen, such a thing doesn’t exist. Your mate’s not the one who laid the egg—how could he possibly have postpartum depression?"

"..."

Lanen closed the comms device and cast a worried glance at Lin You.

But Lin You had indeed changed.

His periods of absentmindedness grew longer, lost in who-knows-what thoughts. Even Lanen’s flirty advances went unnoticed by him.

And to this day, he still hadn’t held their egg.

If not for the certainty of their mutual love and inseparable bond, Lanen might have suspected he had already been replaced.

Rolling the egg back and forth on the table, then standing it upright to spin like a top until it became a spinning blur, Lanen mused in frustration, "Is it because this is a female larva egg?"

Even the egg itself seemed to sense its father’s indifference, growing listless and putting off hatching.

But based on Lanen’s understanding of Lin You, he was definitely not the type of sire to favor male offspring.

So, what was the reason?

The mystery solved itself one night.

Lin You was a night owl, often sneaking out of bed after his Consort fell asleep to scroll on his device—especially fond of forums and shopping apps. That night, Lanen caught him sneakily googling: "Consort obsessed with egg—help??"

Lanen: "?"

He noted His Majesty’s forum ID and logged in.

Under anonymity, the Insect Emperor described how his Consort, after laying the egg, preferred cuddling, kissing, and doting on it, leaving no room for their private time. Worse, he’d heard that female insects dump all their love into their offspring, which deeply troubled him.

Lanen: "?"

—Female insects pour all their love into their offspring because they don’t have a mate as endearing as Lin You.

The Iris General fired back:

Further down, a hive of trolls piled on, calling it a thirsty fem’s fanfic. Lanen paused, knowing his mate’s embarrassment, then typed a reply: "Why not just ask him directly? For example, who’s his favorite—you or the egg?"

The next day, after much hesitation, Lin You indeed came to ask.

Seated at the dining table, he stabbed a breakfast egg with his fork and stammered, "Lanen, between me and this egg, um..."

Lanen: "You. Obviously." Without looking up, he replied coolly, "In that case, tonight, we’ll pawn this egg off on the staff."

"..."

The egg gave a terrified wobble.

Lin You’s fork hit the tiles with a clang.

"No, no need for that," he said in a panic. "Um, eggs... it's better to raise one yourself."

Though Lin You wasn’t quite ready to end their time alone together and still felt a bit dazed, he was willing to learn how to be a good father.

The egg quietly settled down, nuzzling its sire’s hand affectionately.

A smile spread across Lanen’s face. "Then why don’t you hold it?"

"O-okay..." he stammered. Lin You clumsily picked up the egg, unsure where to place his hands and feet, looking exactly like a flustered, first-time father.

Lanen couldn’t help but chuckle.

Meanwhile, the egg seemed to realize this was its best chance to win favor. It nestled into Lin You’s palm, sending out mental waves to convey a simple thought: "Like you."

Holding the fragile little life in his arms, Lin You felt strangely touched. He responded with his own mental waves, doing his best to express affection and warmth.

The egg was satisfied.

Now that the danger had passed, it lazily snuggled between its sire and bearer, preparing to conserve energy for hatching.

However, that night, it was still taken from its nest by its bearer.

Egg: "?"

Lanen unceremoniously dumped it in the living room, then slammed the bedroom door shut with a loud *bang*.

After starving for so long, he wasn’t about to let an egg spectate while he finally got to indulge.

Egg: "..."

It curled up pitifully on the sofa as the noises from the room went on until dawn before finally stopping.

Egg: "QAQ"

—Bearer, Sire, it’s just an egg!